A PREACHER used a very striking illustration in our hearing lately. A wolf escaped from a menagerie in the North of England, and found its way to the hills. It then took to scaring the sheep, catching the sheep and killing the sheep. The farmers and shepherds banded together to capture the marauder, but it successfully escaped capture, and continued its depredations.
After having done a considerable amount of mischief, to the great relief of the countryside it was discovered cut in two on the railway.
Note the wolf did three things. It scattered the sheep; it caught the sheep; it KILLED the sheep.
But the preacher drew attention to the parable of the Good Shepherd in John 10. There we read the verse, “He that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them and scattereth the sheep.” (verse 12). He pointed out that the wolf could scatter, and catch the sheep, but he COULD NOT KILL the sheep. What a comfort to know This! No true believer shall ever perish. The Good Shepherd has pledged His word, and His Father’s name and power. He said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall NEVER PERISH, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all: and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one” (verses 27-29). Yes, one in interest, purpose, love and care for the sheep, as well as one in essential being.
We see how the divine intention was that there should be ONE flock and ONE Shepherd. Alas! the wolf has scattered the sheep. See how the Christians are broken up into divisions, denominations, factions, sects. But thank God, the Good Shepherd shall triumph at last. The Divine intention shall stand good. When the day of glory comes not one, not the feeblest lamb of the flock, shall be missing. All shall be gathered home. The wolf cannot kill.
The Good Shepherd says, “This is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day” (John 6:39).
A. J. Pollock.